Child&#39;s vehicle



Aug. 7, Hm. I mmmm E. M. .FINCH I CHILD "s VEHICLE Filed April 1 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EY WITNESS:

E; M. FINCH CHILD'S VEHICLE Filed m. 1

1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 7 H UHF. H r v INVENTOR AITORNEY Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

UNETEE STATES instill-l PATENT @FFEQE.

EVANDER M. FINCH, OF WHITEHALL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. MCCARTHY, OF .WHITEHALL, NEW YORK.

CHILDS Application filed April 1 T all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, EVANDER l/l.-FINOH, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVhit-ehall, in the county of Washington and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Childrens Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toy vehicles and has for its object the provision of a toy car or vehicle which is so constructed that it may be propelled and steered at the same time.

An important object is the provision of a wheeled toy of this character in which the propelling and steering means is of such a nature that the child may propel himself along while seated upon the toy, it being intended that the child use both his feet and hands for accomplishing the proper steering and propelling action.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which is capable of being quickly and easily disassembled or knocked down for convenience in transportation or storage.

A further object is the provision of a de' vice of this character in which the power portion is in unitary formso that this portion may be removed from association with the remainder of the device without involving the derangement of the power apparatus.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to operate and control, amusing and entertain-- ing in use and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the rear bolster showing the connection of the brace therewith,

Figure 3 is a front elevation,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified form Figure 5 is a similar view of still another modified form and Figure 6 is a side elevation of the latter.

VEHICLE.

, 1922. Serial No. 548,663.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the stub shaft carrying the front wheel or wheels.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates the supporting platform of the device upon the underside of the rear end of which is secured the rear bolster 11 which carries an axle 12 upon the ends of which are journaled wheels 13 of any desired type. Connected with this bolster at the center of the lower edge thereof is an inclined brace bar 14 which has its free end secured to the underside of the seat or platform 10 as by means of a screw 15. The forward end of the platform is provided with a circular hole 16 Straddling the forward end of the platform is a horizontal yoke 17 bifurcated for the reception of the platform. Carried by this yoke is a fork 18 from which extends a trunnion 19 which traverses the bifurcation and which is rotatably engaged within the hole 16 Secured upon one arm of the fork 18 is a metal plate 20 from which extends a stub shaft 21 extending partly across the fork and which forms: an axle for the front wheel 22 which is located within the fork.

The forward end of the yoke 17 is bifurcated as shown at 23, and pivoted at 24: therein is the operating lever 25 which has its upper end carrying a transverse handle 26 and which has its lower end forked, as shown at 27, and provided with laterally extending foot rests 28. Pivoted against the inside of one arm of the fork 27, as shown at 29, is a link 30 which is pivotally connected as shown at 31.

Assuming that the device has been constructed and assembled as above described the operation is as follows: The child seats himself upon the platform 10, places his feet upon the rests 28 and grasps the handle 26. He then alternately pushes forwardly and pulls backwardly upon the handle, at the ame time pushing upon the foot rests in conformity with the rocking movement of the lever upon its pivot 24:. The back and forth rocking movement of the lever is transformed into rotary movement of the front wheel 22 by virtue of the link connect ion 30. This naturally results in propulsion of the device along the ground or other surface traveled over. Steering is effected in the same manner as in the other toys of this type, that is merely by pressing upon with the front wheel 22 eccentrically thereof the handle 26 to effect turning of the yoke 17 and consequently the entire power device with respect to the platform 10, the steering not in any way interfering with the propelling action.

In the form of the device shown in Figure l, the general principle is the same though there are certain variations. In this form the platform 10 carries the yoke 17 from which depends a fork l8 which iswider than thefork l8 and which has ,the inner sides of its arms provided with suitable journals or axles for two front wheels 22 which are spaced apart, as shown. Pivoted on the yoke 17*, as shown at 24, is an operating lever 25 which is connected by a link 3O with one of the front wheels, the connection being exactly the same as in the first described form. However, in this form the lever 25 operates between the wheels 22 .and the foot rests 28 are carried by the fork I 18 instead of by the lever.

Propulsion is effected by moving the lever 25 back and forth as in the first described form.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown the front wheel 32 as provided at one side with a pinion 33 with which meshes a gear 34: journaled on the front fork. The operating lever is of the same construction as in the first described form but the link is connected with the gear 34 instead of with the front wheel. The operation of this form is identically the same as that of the first described form, the only variation being that this form is capable of attaining a greater speed on account of the gear ratio.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive toy vehicle which will be highly amusing, entertaining and also beneficial in use, the latter quality resulting from the exercise to be derived from the operation. It is to be noted that the parts may be quickly and easily disassembled for convenience in shipping or storage. it being however unnecessary to disassemble the power portion of the device,

except to disconnect it from the platform. Owing to the simplicity of the construction and the fewness of the parts it will be apparent that there is nothing to get outiof order and that the device should have a long life and satisfactorily perform all the func- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A toy vehicle of the character described comprising a platform supported above rear wheels, a yoke pivoted for horizontal swinging movement on the forward end of the frame, said yoke having its rear portion bifurcated and straddling the forward end of the platform, the yoke projecting beyond the forward end of the platform and having said forwardly projecting portion vertically bifurcated, a fork secured to and depending from the rear, portion of the yoke and carrying a front wheel, a swingable lever pivoted within said vertical bifurcation and a driving connection between the lower end of said lever and the front wheel.

2. A toy of the character described comprising a platform, rear wheels supporting the platform, a bifurcated yoke engaged upon the front end of the platform, and formed with holes registering with a hole in the platform, a fork beneath'the platform having its upper end. fixed through the holes in the yoke and rotatably passing through the hole in the platform, a front wheel journaled in said fork, a lever rockably asso ciated with the yoke in advance of the wheel, and a driving connection between thelever and said front wheel for imparting rotation to the latter upon rocking movement of the former.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EVANDER M. FINCH. 

